Tips on Mortar Mix Ratio

Mortar is a mix of sand, cement, lime and water. When mixed properly it forms a bond between masonry surfaces such as bricks and concrete blocks of all different sizes.

Cement (using General purpose cement) = 1 part.
Sand = 6 parts.
Lime = 1 part.
Cement and Concrete Tips

Types of cement

All of the concrete mix ratios above use type GP or General Purpose Portland cement. However type GP and Type GB are the most common types.

Type GP - General Purpose Portland cement.
Type GB – General Purpose Blended cement.
Type HE – high Early Strength Cement – or rapid set.
Type LH – low heat cement – used on large structure such as building and dams.
Type SR – Sulphate Resisting cement – use in salty areas.
Type SL – Shrinkage Limited cement.
All of these types have different properties and have a different purpose and are made to have different end results.

Some of the types above all contain additives such as: fly ash, silica fume, and ground slag that change the workability of the cement and the end result.

When laying a path or slab it is best practice to compact the concrete by removing the air from the concrete. This is done by placing a vibrator pole into the concrete at the time of lay to release the air bubbles which in turn increases the density and strength of the concrete.